Today we talked a little bit about gratitude at our family scripture reading. And I thought about ways that I remember, the things I do to keep connected with those who mean the most to me. I also thought about what it means to have a hard heart – a heart that doesn’t let the balm of memory soothe and soften during trying times. A rigid heart is easily broken.
Every morning I spend time remembering. This remember time propels me forward and constructs my day.
I first take time to remember God. I talk with him. I listen to him. This is my prayer time and it takes a while. I don’t want to shortchange God. I do this first thing in the morning.
Then I spend time in the scriptures. I remember my Savior Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for me. And I remember those who went before – both saints and sinners. And hopefully, I learn from this legacy of scripture more lessons that will shape my day.
Third, I spend time with my ancestors. This one is unique and new. I didn’t do this in the morning although I have done it in some form for a long time. I spend time searching them out, learning their stories. I have no famous ancestors. Just normal people. But I spend time connecting with and learning from them.
This quarantine time can be a hotbed of emotions – happiness, grief, regret, loneliness and yes, for many confined in tight quarters – anger. I have experienced my fair share of angry feelings over the past few weeks. Tight quarters and anxious feelings can fuel explosive situations where we react in anger and say things we regret. I have done this.
However, two ideas came to me as I was dealing with and failing in high conflict situations that have been helpful – the soft reply and the quick exit.
The soft reply works for a situation that is hot but not out of control. Think of this type of conflict or aggravation like a small house fire, it could easily become bigger if you fan the flames or, even worse, match the flames with your own fire. However, your goal is to extinguish those angry feelings just as you would put a lid on a pan fire. This is where you try the virtue of the soft reply (you could even try the virtue of no response and total silence). When a child is in a rage or is not meeting your expectations respond in soft, even tones. You can be firm but do not raise your voice.
The second type of response works best when angry feelings within yourself or another person have reached the stage of an out of control inferno. Picture a toddler tantrum or a teenage rage. What do you do in the face of raging flames? You leave and take others with you if they are the target of your another’s anger. For your safety and that of others the best thing to do is to make a quick exit before you get burned. Do not return until you are they are sufficiently calm and then it still may not be best to mention the situation until some time has passed. If you are the angry one then go somewhere where you can isolate yourself and practice a soothing or calming activity until the time has passed.
I am not an expert at anger. But as I have been dealing with my own and my family’s raw emotions I have been trying things out and I found this fire metaphor particularly helpful for visualizing what to do in tense situations. I hope that it will be helpful to you as well.
Disclaimer: My children are half-baked. Many of these ideas come from parents I love and admire – including my own. I don’t have all the parenting answers and I slip up quite a bit. Take these as ideas but use common sense. Look around at successful parents. Ask questions. Make your own parenting plans based on what you learn.
LIMIT MEDIA TIME
I can’t stress this enough. Media is a cop out babysitter. Your boys do NOT need a lot of media time. Especially video games. And they waste a lot of time. Yes, you are going to be the weird mom on the block. But, who cares. You will have smart boys.
Boys will take the easy way out. And if you offer media – they will take it. Each of my boys gets to play computer games only on the weekend and only for a set amount of time. That’s right. What are they doing right now? Playing outside with their friends, using their imaginations. That’s because they have NO OTHER OPTIONS.
If you want them to be computer literate have them do Kahn Academy or Hour of Code. But if you don’t want them living in your basement at 25 then too many games is a big no.
Provide many opportunities for work
My boys do not get much money from us. Its lucky that we don’t have a lot of money. But they don’t get any of it.
This provides an incentive for them to WORK.
Work will be the saving grace for your boys. I have read many biographies of successful people. People who were successful in a moral, honest way all seem to have one trait in common – they learned how to work when they were younger.
We don’t have rows of potatoes for our boys to hoe any more so we have to find other kinds of work for them. We have to CREATE work.
My boys all have household jobs. Each day they have an area of responsibility in our house. They are supposed to get paid for this work (although sometimes I drop the ball here). As they get older they will need more money than I can pay them. If they want special treats or school lunch they use this money. I also provide extra jobs on request so that they can earn extra cash.
Then we send them out into the community. Start with simple things. My middle aged boys sold bread and cookies door to door. They have summer lawn businesses. They shovel snow in the winter time.
Then they are ready for a real job. Be careful that this job doesn’t require them to work too late at night and pick their associates with care. But help them find meaningful work. Right now my oldest son at home works for the school district doing energy modeling. A pretty cool job.
Volunteer work is another source of excellent work. All of my older boys have volunteered at the local Boys and Girls Club. In addition, we volunteer at a community garden with our family in the summer. One of my sons who is interested in medicine volunteers at the hospital. We shovel a lot of snow for neighbors in the winter. Don’t be afraid of finding opportunities for your children to work.
Let them follow their individual interests
I watch my boys closely for signs that they have discovered something that they are interested in or passionate about. Boys like to have a “thing.” Maybe its money. Maybe its medicine. Maybe its programming. Maybe its music. Maybe its bugs. Find a “thing” that excites your son. Then buy him items related to it. Give him lots of compliments for his knowledge in this area. You will be surprised how these “single focus” boys will take this thing and run with it. You will be amazed at what they will do. And it will do wonders for their self esteem.
Read, Read, Read
Encourage your boys to read QUALITY books. Someone once told me that kids were “weird” who read classical books. Well, if weird means that they go to a great university and can contribute to society in intelligent, meaningful ways then I’ll take weird boys.
I require my children to read and require them to spend time reading great literature. If they don’t like to read I even pay them to read or institute some other reward system. Reading is the key to success.
I love the story of Ben Carson in Gifted Hands. Ben is the head of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins. His mother saw him failing in school when he was a boy. She made this a matter of prayer and God helped her to notice something. The rich people whose houses she cleaned had lots of books in their homes.
So she started requiring her children to read two books a week. And to write a report on them. Ben chose many books on scientific topics and this fueled his interest in becoming a doctor. Ben credits much of his success in life today to a determined mother who had high expectations.
Make Time for Them
Make time to be alone with your boys and make time to be together as a family.
Our family likes to do things together: cookouts in the canyon, hikes, camping trips, trips to visit family, trips to museums and to special community events. We have traditions like the Scandinavian Festival held in our state that we attend every year or the Middle Eastern dinner that we eat Bedouin style on Christmas Eve.
We also try to spend time alone with our kids. I like to take them out to lunch. I pick them up from school during the week and take them to a cheap place of their choice. Sometimes my husband joins me. It beats the cost of therapy.
We also have instituted a practice which I realize as I am writing this we need to do more often: “special talk time.” This is one on one time with our kids at night. They come in and plop on our beds and we talk about how things are going. Sometimes we talk about more serious subjects like sexuality or bullying. Nothing is “off limits” in these discussions. They are just a time to talk.
Don’t Fall into the “Sports are Everything” Trap
Be careful about sacrificing your son on the altar of the soccer gods or the basketball gods. Sports take up a lot of time. Our boys love sports. And we encourage them to play a sport. But they don’t play on the premiere competitive teams. We have opted for a more laid back approach. Lower cost teams. No traveling to tournaments. No year round practicing. Sometimes this means that they don’t make the high school team. (This happened to one son this year). However, the same son who didn’t make the team this year also has a 35 on his ACT and volunteers at the local hospital. He has an after school job and is preparing for a church service mission. And he gets to spend time with our family. Professional and college sports teams take so few players. So unless your child has an amazing sports advantage in size or skill that you notice from the outset evaluate carefully where you are headed. Use sports as a hobby, don’t treat it like a full time job.
Stand Your Ground
Boys don’t take “No” for an answer very easily. Be prepared for a fight. Do NOT back down. Do NOT argue. Just stand firm on your positions. “No, you cannot do… until your chores are done.” “No, we will not buy you a ….” “Yes, your curfew is 11:00.” I love positive parenting psychologist Glenn Latham who says that 97% of the time if you calmly and firmly stand your ground the kids will eventually do what you are asking. You don’t need to be mean. Just wait patiently and follow through with consequences.
So many moms give in to their sons. And then they end up with regrets later on. You don’t owe your sons anything that could hurt them. Until they are 18, you are the boss. You provide the food, the transportation, the bed they sleep in. And don’t be afraid to remind them of these things when they are trying to cajole and wheedle you into doing something (or not doing something). Mom knows best.
Continuing on the theme of type-A personalities from my last post. I guess that means that we want all A’s, right? I am certainly one of those people who WANTS all A’s. I just had a friend share with me about her high school student who has straight A’s. However, her daughter also wants to play sports, act, sing in the school choir and play in the orchestra. So, she is super stressed out because she is getting a B in math. There’s probably a little bit of her in all of us. We want to have it all. This means – the perfect body, the perfect house, the perfect marriage, the perfect kids, the perfect friends…is there such a person?!! I see only three problems with trying to get all A’s in life:
1. It’s impossible.
2. It will drive everyone around you crazy.
3. You yourself will become a mental wreck.
I was not a straight A student. Not in high school. Not in college. Matter of fact, I considered a token B my good luck charm. I earned a B my first year of high school. All A’s and one B. The same with my first year of college – B for ballet. But I really enjoyed that ballet class, even though I was…always late. And in law school I was in the top ten but not at the top. Those B’s I now realize represented something important too.
B was for breaks. I went to bed early. I went running. I went to dances and to eat with my friends. B was for boyfriend (who I later married). B was for baby (my second year of law school). Those B’s were as important as any A’s I ever earned. In my mind, at least. I wasn’t not trying. But I put the brakes on perfection so I could achieve in other areas of my life. I decided that a few dishes in the sink, a less than stellar performance on a paper, were okay. Because B’s are real life.
I am still not a super cook. I whip out some A meals. But plenty of Bs and a fair sprinkling of Cs. I exercise. But only for twenty minutes every other day. I eat pretty healthy. But I allow myself some treats. My house is “healthy clean” but not immaculate. I am a pretty good mom. Except when I’m not. I let my friends down – but we keep texting. And I can drive my husband crazy, but we still plan on being together forever.
So if you are driving yourself and others to the brink of insanity with your relentless desire for perfection in all areas of your life. Relax, pause, take the B. You’ll enjoy it!
Are you tired? We run at a frantic pace these days. And there are so many things we are “supposed to” do. We are supposed to care for others and serve. We are supposed to work hard and not be idle. We are supposed to develop our talents and attend social gatherings. And these are all good things. Right? And yes, there are times when this is all we can do.
But, the first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) We are really good multipliers. We are really good at being fruitful. We want lots of money, lots of things, lots of friends, lots of family. We want fruit. But sometimes we type-A personalities ignore the second half of this scriptural injunction.
I was listening to a really great message by Sharon L. Eubank, the director of L.D.S. Charities, urging people to take time to restore themselves. She said that she went to visit an old friend and career mentor before he died. This man was a “doer.” He told her that until this point in his life he had not understood the scriptural commandment to “multiply and replenish” the earth. He had multiplied. But he had not understood that he also needed to replenish. And he urged her to take time to replenish. This was the message from her dying friend.
Water cannot be drawn from an empty well. Plants cannot draw sustenance from barren soil. We must fill ourselves before we can give.
Jesus replenished. More than once we hear in scripture that Jesus went off to be alone in the desert to pray. He took a nap every once in awhile (and slept so soundly that even an ocean storm couldn’t wake him). He ate with friends. He took time to be with children and to enjoy others’ company. He delegated work to his apostles and He didn’t try to be a one-man show. He slowly finished business in Jerusalem even when a dear friend of his lay sick and near death. Indeed, one of the most alluring things about the ministry of Jesus Christ was its serendipitous nature. No hurrying. No deadlines. Ministering to people as they came to Him. In the moment. Loving. Talking. Listening to hear God’s direction.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh urged the women of her day to find an hour during the day for contemplation and reflection – to make an appointment with themselves. She said “[W]omen need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves: that firm strand which will be the indispensable center of a whole web of human relationships.” Men need this too. We should not feel any more selfish about taking time to refill than we do about making an appointment to get a doctor’s checkup or a hair do. This time is essential. It may have to be early in the morning or after the mad evening rush but find this time.
We need to slow down. We need to take time to refill ourselves. We need to step back. We need to talk to God and really listen. We need to replenish.
I have been dealing with theological questions all of my life. As a woman, a former law student, and as a student working for a professor of Church History and doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I dealt with many confusing theological questions and quandaries. Here are some things I have learned that have helped me to deal more successfully with theological questions.
Expect Flexible Guidance
The most common dogmatic conundrums that people face seem to revolve around changing Church policies. HOW can I believe in a Church that supported polygamy or in which blacks were not allowed to hold the priesthood?
We can expect that the form and function of the Church will change over time. If you pictured the commandments like a road then expect twists and turns as you drive to your destination. These twists and turns accommodate changes in society and allow us to safely and most successfully navigate the changing landscape of the human race, arriving safely at our eternal destination.
Or imagine a parent who did not adjust rules, guidelines and expectations to the needs of a growing and changing family. As we look to our Eternal Father, could we expect any less from his guidance? We don’t need to build an ark or cross the Red Sea today but a health code like the Word of Wisdom may be much more applicable when alcoholism has become a worldwide epidemic. In the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints flexibility is key.
Expect to Work
We all like to get something for nothing. But unexpected gifts are rare in life and they are rare in the answers category too. When we come across something that confuses us we need to put on our boots and get to work.
One really great way to do this is to pray, and even to fast and pray, about these issues. I have been amazed at how quickly God answers my prayers if I actually take the time to pray. I can’t think of a question that I have asked that He has not led me to answers for. Do we really want the problem solved or do we just want to talk and stew about the problem? Some people seem to enjoy this.
Expect Answers
I believe in answers. I remember a time when an issue had been bothering me. I cannot even remember what it was. But I took the time to fast and pray. And over time this asking was richly rewarded with a trip to the Church History Library where I learned some amazing details about early Church history that built my testimony in unexpected ways. I remain grateful to this day for that day in the Church History Library which ranks as one of the most spiritual of my entire life. God wants to answer us, He is waiting to answer us. I know this.
Another time I had a question about Church family policy. I prayed and then opened to a Book of Mormon scripture which answered my question. Not only did I receive an answer but I was also powerfully reminded me that God heard me and that He cares.
Satan doesn’t want us to ask questions. He wants us to grumble, murmur, gossip and complain. But NOT to go to God. Because He knows that questions asked in this way will be richly rewarded.
Expect Blessings and Joy
Questions are not meant to be the substance of life. We are not meant to spend our lives thirstily wandering in dry deserts. The question experience may be important but getting mired in a quagmire of confusion is certainly not essential to our exaltation. The key to doing this is to do what the Book of Mormon phrase recommends – to “Go forth.” We need to press forward, to pray, to study, to keep active and answers will come. I believe and indeed know that we will be richly rewarded as we prayerfully seek answers to our questions.
I especially love my little ones for this. No one is better than a little child to teach you about pure love. My little children genuinely care about me. I can feel it. They get worried when I am sad. They are disappointed when I fall short. I have never felt more pure and genuine love since being a mother. There is nothing that touches me more than the touch of a little tiny hand on mine when I have had a bad day. Or a little voice whispering in my ear: “Mom, you need to get some rest.” Is this what it was like to live in God’s perfect heaven? People comforting us, reassuring us, urging us on when we fall short. Loving us unconditionally? It must have been for the people in my life who are the closest to heaven are also the most loving.
Of course those same little ones can also be perfectly frustrating when they are having a tantrum in the middle of the library or pooping yellow baby poop on your Mother’s Day dress (yes, I’ve been there!). But they are completely genuine. Completely unaffected. And if they love you, they really do.
2. Motherhood Dispels Loneliness
One reason I had a big family was because my mother-in-law was always on the phone. She was the mother of eight. She was not blessed with a perfect body or a perfect home and her children brought her many challenges. But she had been raised as an only child (she had one brother who was much older than her) and she wanted her children to have the blessing of siblings. When I met her she was a frazzled but very lovable woman who was always talking on the phone. Helping out a child in college with a paper. Making arrangements for a wedding. Comforting a child who was neglected or ill. She was the consummate mother and I was captivated by the messy happiness of her family.
3. Raison d’etre (I thought I’d through some French in here since I never use my high school French)
Yes, you now have a “reason for being,” a reason for life. These dear little and big people will tax your resources constantly. You will constantly come up short. But no one else will be able to do what you are doing. No government position, no preschool, no one will be able to replicate the love and the caring that only a parent can share. You will be so desperately needed and no one will ever be able to take your place. You will know this. You will feel this. At times it will be terrible. And, at times, it will be wonderful. I love this statement from Tagore once repeated by a man I admire: “Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.”
4. Life is more Interesting
My life is infinitely more blessed and interesting because of my children. Who would have thought that a quiet girl who liked to read and who never got asked on a date in high school would have a house full of boys (and one princess!). I am living a life I never dreamed possible. I have attended more soccer matches and basketball games than I ever thought possible. And each of my children’s talents and challenges has broadened my horizons. I have learned about art, medicine, psychology, cooking, interior design, computer programming. I have helped with science fair projects and am currently treasurer for the PTA (I never took a math class in college) and helping with the Chinese New Year for our dual immersion school (although I know about two words of Chinese). This is interesting and fun — when it’s not exhausting….
5. Motherhood Blesses Your Marriage
When you have a child you forge a new sort of marriage. “Forge” is the perfect word because your marriage will literally be put through a refining fire. Before, your marriage was fun but pretty selfish. You left when you wanted to leave. You went where you wanted. You had lots of time to binge watch television series and to go running together. This will no longer be the case. You will give up some hobbies and some entanglements.
But you will be creating something new. A partnership. There will be some major growing pains as you learn to work together on a shared project: the project of parenthood. And you will have some conflict. You will be working harder than you ever worked in your life. But if you and your partner persist you will forge something beautiful and strong for your children and for society. A family.
I love this statement from a president of our church about his marriage of over fifty years: “Today neither of us stands as tall as we once did. As I looked at her across the table, I noted a few wrinkles in her face and hands. But are they less beautiful than before? No, in fact, they are more so…in their very presence is something that speaks reassuringly of strength and integrity and a love that runs more deeply and quietly than ever before.”
6. A chance to use my creativity
I’ve met some fabulous mothers in my day. They were all different. But they all were creating beautiful things in their home. Some mothers excelled at entertaining and creating a warm home environment for their children and their friends. Others focused on delicious food or healthy lifestyles. Others on the arts. But these mothers cared and they sought excellence in their work. And they put tremendous effort into creating a family, just as an artist would create a painting. I get to use my talents to influence others every day in mothering. My love of good books, gardening and Jesus Christ are the colors I have chosen in my palette. I am painting with care. And I love it. I think that motherhood is the most creative job in the world.
7. Perfect imperfection
One thing I love about theology from my church is its philosophy about Eve. Eve is a very complex character in my church’s literature, and a heroine of sorts. As I see it she had a choice to make between a perfectly ordered life in the Garden of Eden or a life with children and growth but with the accompanying pain and imperfection. And she chose the imperfectly perfect life.
And it surely is no Eden. Just yesterday I had a houseful of kids over. We had hoses being funneled through basement windows, bags of dried lavender from my craft room being sifted over the carpet, and an entire bag of popsicles consumed (I quickly hid my Christmas orange rolls in the tupperware cupboard before the storm descended). But something in me just loved all the running around and the shouting and even the crying child who came in telling me that someone had hit them with a stick. It was a full, happy afternoon – although I finally put on a movie so I could have a little break:-). I realize that a large family is not possible for all, but having children will help you learn that life is about people – and that we have to give up some other things in the process.
Photo by Samir Belhamra @Grafixart_photo on Pexels.com
It seems like people are just fearful these days. Fearful and anxious. And religious people are about as fearful as any of them. Sometimes I wonder if they are more so. But, God tells us repeatedly in the scriptures to not fear. Indeed, some claim that this is the most repeated command in the Holy Scriptures.
But, we also learn that “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
So, what can we do to be less fearful?
1.Trust God More – We read in the scriptures that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Here are some things we know about God’s love for those who trust in Him and keep His commandments:
He has good things in store for us – For truly “[e]ye hath not seen … the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
He will take care of our needs – Yes, “consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:25-31)
He will forgive our sins and mistakes – He tells us: “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” in Hebrews 8:12.
He will be our defender “The Lord is our defense,” Psalms 89:18.
He will make it up to us when we have hard times – I love the promise in the famous Beatitude – “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted, Matt. 5:4
He will work miracles for us – In the Bible we read that “All things are possible to him that believeth” Mark 9:23 – Do we believe this? Do we believe that God is a God of miracles? Do we believe that He has the power to do anything for us, if it be according to His will?
He knows us and will not forget us – For “are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten unto God? … Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” He knows us. He will not forget us.
AND even when we falter, even when we fail, ALL things [including our mistakes] will work together for our good (See Romans 8:28).
How can we not trust a God who can do things like this for us? Who has made these kinds of promises. We should put more faith in Him.
2.Prepare More Completely – With all of this, there is still the age old grace and works balance. Instead of being immobilized as we prepare for tough situations we need to do our part. Scripture tells us “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). So, trusting in God does not abdicate our responsibility. Indeed, there is no better way to yoke ourselves with God than to do what little we can to solve our own problems. We need to show him our faith by moving forward and doing something. Then we can expect a miracle.
I have a terrible fear of heights. A couple of years ago I tried to climb a difficult mountain in our area with my family. My fear was so bad that at one point on the trail I became immobilized by a fairly standard drop off. And we never completed the climb because of my trepidation about the summit.
Then I went to Switzerland on a family trip. This was the homeland of my great-grandparents and my ancestors, including a famous Swiss mountain guide. There I also met Brigithe, my relative who was a ski instructor at St. Moritz. She loved adventure, she loved mountain biking races and she even told me “flat is boring.” She and her family took us on a little trip to prove this point – a narrow one-way road through the winding alps with sheer thousand feet drops on one side – on which we drove our thirteen passenger van! This was following an earlier hike on Mount Pilatus where I watched my children leap along a trail with sheer drops that were breathtaking and terrifying.
I came back home and we completed the climb including scaling the rocky summit. Why? Because I had been forced to practice. And practicing took away my fear.
“Flat is boring!” We need to be challenging ourselves and working hard to prepare to meet the challenges of our day.
So, let’s conquer our fears head on. Let’s trust God more, prepare more, and make the choice to not fear.
Russell M. Nelson is not your average ninety-four year old. The former heart surgeon keeps a dizzying schedule as leader of one of the world’s fastest growing religious organizations – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Over the years he has let some secrets slip out about his good health:
1. He’s always moving – President Russell M. Nelson is no stranger to hard work. One would think he would be entitled to a ride in an elevator or a golf cart on occasion. But President Nelson always takes the stairs. And he prefers walking to riding in the golf carts provided for transporting church leaders. Fellow church leader M. Russell Ballard says: “You can’t keep up with him when he’s walking — at least I can’t. Of course, both my knees have been replaced. So I hobble along trying to keep up,but it’s not easy. He walks every chance he gets.” (Sheri Dew, Insights from a Prophet’s Life, page 344)
2. He has a disciplined appetite – At lunch President Nelson will generally eat a bowl of soup while others prefer roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. (Spencer J. Condie, Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle, page 367). He, of course, also follows the code of health for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abstaining from alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes.
3. He gets outside – President Nelson enjoys being outside and recreating. His daughter Sylvia says: “He has taken care of himself; he always exercises. He doesn’t much like to lift weights or walk on a treadmill. He’s got to be outdoors.” (Dew, p. 345). For President Nelson this means snow shovelling in the winter and gardening in the summer. When he arrives at a new destination he often takes a brisk walk, also following this practice before or after a lengthy meeting or before retiring at night. (Condie, 367).
4. He recreates actively – For many years President Nelson skied as often in the winter as his schedule allowed. He continued this practice into his nineties (until Church Security put a stop to it). He also has enjoyed snorkeling, fishing and, of course, walks in nature.
5. He is an early riser – President Nelson counsels others to rise early stating, “To those who feel defeated an downtrodden, look to the early hours of the day for your rescue.” (“Joy Cometh in the Morning,” Ensign Nov. 1986, 70). President Nelson follows a pattern of study in the morning (he studies the scriptures) that allows him quiet time to reflect and ponder.
These health practices may be the reason that that for many decades President Nelson never missed a day of work because of illness. (Condie, 367) Most twenty or thirty somethings can barely keep up with the demands of life and stay healthy. So it’s nice to hear every once in a while how a ninety year old does it. Despite his hectic schedule, President Russell M. Nelson shows no signs of slowing down. So perhaps we all should start doing our best to keep up, starting with a few of these tips.
